Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus with descriptions of larvae of some species

18 Pages·1998·7.4 MB·

by  Matti Ahola

Entomologica Fennica. 7 July 1998
©
Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus with descriptions of
larvae of some species
Matti Ahola
Ahola, M. 1998: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus with descriptions of
larvae of some species.-Entomol. Fennica 9: 19-36.
A list of species collected is presented with notes on collecting sites. Larvae of
Agrochola orientalis Fibiger, 1997 Agrochola lychnidis (Denis & Schiffer
mtiller, 1775), Ammoconia aholai Fibiger, 1996, Allophyes asiatica (Stau
dinger, 1892) and Polymixis trisignata (Menetries, 1847) are described and
illustrated. Comparative comments with some closely related species are
given.
Matti Ahola, Sievintie 319, F1N-85900 Reisjiirvi, Finland
Received 14 June 1997, accepted 23 February 1998
1. Introduction scnted in Table 1. Names and systematics fol
low Nowacki and Fibiger (1996), with one ex
During two trips to Cyprus especially Noctuidae ception.
were observed. The first time in December 1993,
I spent some thrilling moments after lights were
turned on and sugar-baits were hanging from the 2. Methods
twigs near the ruins of Salamis. It was the night
of Christmas Eve, some minutes past 17:00 at sun Moths were collected between 23.XII.l993-5.1.1994 and
set. The first half hour my 40-W tube-lights were 2l.XII-26.XII.l994 the usual way by using light and sugar
baits. On the first trip, a Honda generator ran four tube
empty and it was time to visit the sugar-baits. As
lights, two of them were 40-W Phillips tubes with bluish
usual, I used ropes with sugar and red wine. I
light and two 20-W Insect-o-Cutor tubes with greenish light.
slowly approached the first bait and found some On the second trip, only sugar-baits were used because of
moths sitting on the rope! In a short while the first rather poor lighting results. Ten to 15 sugar ropes, each 3-
moths were in my net. Never before had I been in 4 m long, were hung in the vegetation every night. Sugar
a Mediterranean area collecting moths at this time and wine were used as bait. The best time for baiting was
just after sunset between 17:00 and 19:00, at other times
and did not know, which species might fly at the
the ropes hung empty. For the rearings some females were
end of the year.
taken alive with the purpose of egg-laying. After eggs were
My friend Mr. Jyrki Lehto and I collected laid, the rearings were performed at room temperature. The
moths between 30.XII.l993 and 5.I.l994 in the habitus of the last instar larvae were described and docu
area north of Salamis and on the Five Finger mented by photographing, the larvae were preserved in al
Mountains along the northern coast from Girne cohol or dried by blowing and mouth parts were prepared
in Euparal and drawn with a Wild binocular drawing tube.
to Dipkarpaz. For the rest of my first trip and dur
Hinton's (1946) names of setae are used in chaetotaxy as
ing my second trip on 21-26.12.1994 I worked
interpreted by Ahola (1986). The description of ornaments
alone. A list of collecting sites and species is pre- follows Beck (1974).
20 Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9
Table 1. A list of moths collected in Cyprus 23.XII.1993-5.1.1994 and 21.XII.1994-26.XII.1994. Collecting
sites: 1 =Salamis (Yeni Bogazici) 23.XII.1993-5.1.1994; 2 = Camlica 26.XII.1993; 3 = Akcicek 27.XII.1993; 4 =
Dipkarpaz 28.XII.1993; 5 = Kantara 29.XII.-1.1.1994; 6 = BesparmakTepesi 30.XII.1993; 7 = Karaman 2.1.1994;
8 = Kozan 4.1.1994; 9 = Akcicek 21.XII.1994; 10 = Sinan Tepe 22.XII.1994; 11 = Yedidalga 23.XII.1994; 12 =
Bufavento 24.XII.1994; 13 =Salamis 25.XII.1994; 14 = Besparmak 26.XII.1994. N =New to Cyprus.
Family Sites Notes
Genus Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Noctuidae
Hypeninae
Hypena lividalis (Hubner, 1796) + - - 2 exx
Plusiinae
Autographa gamma (Linnaeus, 1758) + --+--- - + - + -
Trichoplusia ni (Hubner, 1803) - - + 1m
vittata (Wallengren, 1 856) - + - 1 f, N
Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper, [1789]) + - - - - - - - - + - 2m
Eustrotiinae
Eublemma ostrina (Hubner,[1808]) + + - + - 4 exx
Cuculliinae
Cucullia ca/endu/ae Treitschke, 1835 + + - - + - Abundant
Al/ophyes asiatica (Staudinger, 1891) - + + - - - + - ++ -+ 8 exx
Condicinae
Condica viscosa (Freyer, 1831) - + - 2m
Heliothinae
Heliothis peltigera ([Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775) + + - 3 exx
Heliothis nubigera Herrich-Schaffer, 1851 + - - 1m
Hadeninae
Paradrina flavirena (Guenee, 1852) + - - 1 f
Spodoptera exigua (Hubner,[1808)) + - - - - - - - + - - + 8 exx
cilium (Guenee, 1 852) + - - - + 4 exx
littoralis (Boisduval, 1 833) + + - - + - - + Common
Agrochola lychnidis ([Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775) ++++++++++++++ Abundant
macilenta (Hubner,[1809)) --- + --++- 17 exx
orienta/is Fibiger, 1997 - - + - + + + - - 3 f.4 m, N
Conistra rubricans Fibiger, 1997 - + - + + + - Abundant, N
Aporophyla australis (Boisduval, 1829) +++++ - --+-++++ Abundant
nigra (Haworth, 1 809) ++++ - ++ + + + + Abundant
canescens (Duponchel, 1826) - + - - - + + - 5 exx
Lithophane lapidea (Hubner, 1 808) +--- ---- +--+-+ 6 exx
Xylena exsoleta (Linnaeus, 1758) - + - - - - - + 2 exx
Dryobotodes carbonis (F. Wagner, 1931) ------- + 3 exx
Ammoconia aholai Fibiger, 1996 --++---+++++ 41,7 m, N
Polymixis rufocincta (Geyer,[1828)) ++++++- - ++++-+ Abundant
trisignata (Menetries, 1 847) +++-+ ++++++ Abundant
aphrodite Fibiger, 1997 - - + - - - - + - + 6 exx, N
Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth, 1 809) + - - - - - - 1 m
1-a/bum (Linnaeus, 1767) + - 3m
/anguida (Walker, 18 58) --------+--+ 12 exx
loreyi (Duponchel, 1827) ----+--+ 2m
Noctuinae
Noctua pronuba Linnaeus, 1758 + - - - - - 1 m
Peridroma saucia (Hubner,[1808]) - + 1m
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel, 1766) + - - + - - - - - + 5 exx
trux (Hubner,[1824]) + - - - - - - - + + + - 6 exx
segetum ([Denis & Schiffermuller], 1775) + + - 3 exx
Lymantriidae
Orgyia dubia (Tauscher, 1806) + - - - - - - Larvae
Nolidae
Nolinae
Nola aegyptiaca Snellen, 1875 + - 1 f, N
Chloephorinae
Nycteola columbana Turner, 1925 - + - 1 m
Arctiidae
Ocnogyna /oewii (Zeller, 1846) + - 3m
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9 • Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus 21
CYPRUS
11
..
19':i1 tr)
1
25 km
Fig. 1. A map of Cyprus. Numbers of collecting sites (encircled) refer to those presented in Table 1, black
triangle shows the highest tops of the Five Finger Mountains and Troodos. Black fleck in the middle is Nicosia/
Lefkosa, the capital city of Cyprus.
3. Collecting sites tude about 600 m. Site numbers 3 and 9 were si
tuated high on the dry southern slopes near Ak
All localities are shown in Fig. 1, numbers refer cicek, altitude about 800 m, and number 8 in a
to the map. There are two mountains in Cyprus. lower place close to Kozan, at about 400 m. Loca
Peaks of Troodos mountains are higher, reaching lity number 2 was near Camlica, on the southern
1 951 m while the other one, Besparmak Daglari foothills of the mountain at about 200 m. Other
also called the Five Finger Mountains, is lower collecting localities were on the coastal area, num
reaching 1 024 m on the highest top of Selvilt tepe. bers 1 and 13 close to the Salamis ruins on the
During both trips this mountain was of great inte beach, number 4 near Dipkarpaz on sand downs,
rest to me. According to the English name of the number 11 near Y edidalga at the foot of the
mountain, there are five peaks and Selvilt tepe Troodos mountain and number 14 in Pinus forest
situated westermost. The other "fingers" of the close to the path to Besparmak village.
mountain from west to east are Komando tepe,
Besparmak tepesi, Yayla tepe and Sinan tepe. The
southern slopes of the mountain are dry with 4. Larval descriptions
macchia-vegetation whereas the northern part is
shielded by trees, mostly Pinus. Woodlands, es 4.1. Agrochola orienta/is Fibiger, 1997
pecially with shade trees predominating, are
scarce. For example, I only found /lex species near Material examined: 2 larvae in last instar ex ovo, female
collected near Sin an tepe to the west of Kantara 22.XII.1994.
Kantara (collecting sites 5 and 10, altitude about
500 m). This place is rather rich with deciduous Mouthparts (Figs. 2-5 and 21): Spinneret ra
trees and bushes. Sites 6 and 12 were situated in ther stout, about 2.8 X its width, dorsoventrally
Pinus-forest, on the ridge of the mountain, alti- flattened with one groove above, slightly taper-
22 Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9
ing distad. Labial palps with relatively thick first Egg (Fig. 23): Plain pale brown.
segment (Lpsl), about 1.8 x its width; length of Host: In ex ovo rearing larvae fed on lettuce.
seta Lp2 about 3 x that of seta Lp 1. S tipular setae Similar species: The larva of A. orienta/is is
relatively long, as long as width of Lpsl. Distal close to both A. liturra (Linnaeus, 1758) and
region of hypopharynx covered by short spines, A. me ridionalis (Staudinger, 1871). It differs from
letters refer to Fig. 14; spines of distal lateral group both related species as follows: subdorsal lines
(a) stouter and longer, about 3 X length of spines on shields are broken into white spots; violet tinge
of distal medial group (b). Spines of distal ante present on margins of subdorsal line on abdomen;
rior (c) and distal posterior (d) groups short. Pos ventral edge of spiracular line sharp; strong red
terior region of hypopharynx with row of weak dish colour on the apex of prolegs and thoracic
lateral spines (e), dorsolateral spines (f) and spines legs red or reddish-brown. In addition shape of
located behind lateral group (h) nearly equal in spinneret is stouter. Larva of A. meridionalis has
size, those of posteromedial group (g) are very slender Lps1 of labial palpus, about twice its
thin and short. Spines of d and g groups formed width. Comparative scheme of spines of hypo
into open circles. Mandible with six teeth of cut pharynx between A. orienta/is and related spe
ting margin and three parallel ridges on inner sur cies in Fig. 21.
face, first and second ridge slightly swollen, in
ner teeth absent.
Head (Fig. 24): Pale yellowish- or greenish 4.2. Agrochola lychnidis (Denis & Schiffer
brown, darkness varies. Stripes and reticulation miiller, 1775)
well visible except on vertex; coronal stripe
brownish, narrow, frontal stripe pale grey or whit Material examined: 2 last instar larvae ex avo, dark female
ish, joined with anterior zone, supraocellar stripe collected at Kantara 29.XII.1993.
darker from A3 to La, ocellar stripe weak. Frons Mouthparts (Figs. 6--9 and 21): Spinneret slen
pale or dark greenish-grey, darker than whitish der, length more than 3 x its width, with groove
adfrons. Ocellar zone narrow, white: genae pale on dorsal surface. Labial pal pus with short Lps 1,
greenish-grey. First antenna! segment brown, sec length about 1.6 x its width, and weak seta Lp1,
ond paler reddish-brown. length ofLp2 more than 3 X that ofLpl. Stipular
Shields: Ground colour green. Cervical shield setae as long as width of Lpsl. Distal region of
with narrow, pale green middorsal line and white hypopharynx covered by short spines; spines of
subdorsal line, which is broken into spots. Setal distal lateral group (a) stouter and longer, about
rings green, base-spots and pores white; suture 2 X length of spines of distal medial group (b).
punctures colourless, those of the lateral group Spines of distal anterior (c) and distal posterior
forming a line on the margin of the shield. Lines (d) groups short. Posterior region of hypophar
of the anal shield weak, broken to spots on ante ynx with row of weak lateral spines (e), dorsola
rior part; setal rings green with narrow, white teral spines (f) and spines located behind lateral
bases. Suture punctures colourless. group (h) nearly equal in size, those of posterior
Body (Figs. 25 and 26): Only green phase of medial group (g) are very thin and short. Spines
larvae available for study. Middorsal and subdor of d and g groups formed into open circles. Man
sallines narrow, white, broken into spots and bor dible with six teeth of cutting margin and three
dered by dark grey or dark violet-grey margins; parallel ridges on inner surface, inner teeth ab
spiracular line white or yellowish-white, broad sent.
with sharp, narrow, dark dorsal margin and also Head (Fig. 27): Pale yellowish-brown. Stripes
clear ventral edge between pleural zone and line. rarrow, weak, pale yeJlowi h-brown, Olher tig
Setal bases white, dorsally bordered by dark green ~res weak but all reliculation groups visible, frons
or greyish margins. Spiracles pale yellow with and genae pale yellowish-brown, adfrons and an
black rims, situated on spiracular line except those terior zone between antennae and seta A1 whit
of segment S8. Pro legs green with strong reddish ish-grey, ocellar zone narrow, whitish, antenna!
colour on base of crochets; thoracic legs brown segments pale yellowish-brown.
or reddish-brown. Shields: Cervical shield green also in brown
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9 • Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus 23
larvae. Middorsal line white, narrow, bordered by dorsal groove present; length of spinneret equal
dark greyish-green margins on posterior part of to that oflabial pal pi. Lps I long and slender, length
shield; subdorsal line broken to white spots ce more than twice its width and 1.5 X Lp2. Seta Lp2
phalad from pore XDc and seta D2; setal rings 3 X longer than seta Lpl. Stipular setae shorter
and pores pale green encircled with white bases; than width of Lps 1. Distal region of hypopharynx
suture punctures pale green, lateral suture punc covered by short spines; spines of distal lateral
tures longitudinally on ventral margin of shield. group (a) stouter and longer, about 3 X length of
Anal shield pale yellowish-brown with white, spines of distal medial group (b). Spines of distal
narrow but continuous lines; setal bases white. anterior (c) and distal posterior (d) groups short.
Body (Figs. 28 and 29): Groundcolour green Posterior region of hypopharynx with row of 1O
or pale brown, most prominent figure is dark Il strong lateral spines (e), dorsolateral spines (f)
brown, blackish or dark green, broad transverse very weak and short equal to those of posterior
spot between setae Dl-Dl on the back and broad medial group (g). Spines of g-group occur on fron
blackish dorsal margin of subdorsal line between tal part of area and form into open circles. Spines
setae Dl and D2 joined together with transverse located behind lateral group (h) slightly longer
spot on abdominal segments S 1-8. Middorsal, sub than those off group. Mandible with three inner
dorsal and supraspiracular lines present but nar ridges terminating on strong process before cut
row, white, the latter broken to spots and hardly ting margin and one strong inner tooth on first
visible, all bordered by dark grey or brown mar ridge.
gins; spiracular line broad, pure white, dorsally Head (Fig. 31): Ground colour pale brown,
bordered by dark brown or green margin enlarged stripes narrow, pale brown, bands of reticulation
to black, broad spot between setae Ll and SD2 same colour, fields weak pale yellowish-grey. Re
on segments SII-S8. Setal rings green or brown ticulation weak but available. Frons, adfrons, o
with white base-spots encircled by darker green cellar zone and genae pale yellowish-brown.
or brown colour. Pleural and ventral zones pale Shields: Yellowish-brown. Cervical shield
green or pale brown with white setal bases. Pro legs with narrow, pale grey middorsal line bordered
pale green or pale brown with cuff of same col narrowly by dark brown colour, subdorsal line
our; thoracic legs pale brown. only pale grey spot on anterior margin. Lines ab
Host: In ex ovo rearing larvae fed lettuce. sent on anal shield. Setal punctures brown encir
Note: Larva of Cypriot A. lychnidis differs ha cled by white, relatively large bases. Dark grey
bitually from my material from Germany. In the transverse band bordered cervical shield on the
first place, black figures on the back and promi neck.
nent black spots around spiracles arouse astonish Body (Fig. 32): Brown with very obscure lines,
ment. In addition, Lps 1 of labial pal pus is longer middorsal line broken to weak, whitish spots, bor
and more slender (length twice its width) and lat dered by narrow dark brown margin, which is
eral teeth of hypopharynx stouter and longer in weakly enlarged intersegmentally, subdorsal line
German material. According to Gomez de Aiz visible only because of narrow, dark brown dor
ptirua (1987), Spanish larvae of the species are sal border, spiracular line white, narrow dorsal
close to those from Germany. Spines of hypopha part continuous. Bases ofDl, D2 and SDl setae
rynx of both populations are compared in Fig. 21 white, encircled dorsally by dark brown border,
with those of Conistra vaccinii (Linnaeus, 1761). other figures absent. Spiracles pale yellowish
white with black rings.
Egg (Fig. 30): Pale grey with reddish-brown
4.3. Ammoconia aholai Fibiger, 1996 spot on micropyle area and narrow, reddish band
around egg.
Material examined: 3 last instar larvae ex ovo, female col Pupa (Fig. 33): Two strong setae on top of
lected near Sinan tepe to the west of Kantara 22.XII.1994,
cremaster.
!larva ex ovo, female collected at Yedidalga 23.XII.1994.
Hosts: In ex ovo rearings lettuce accepted as
Mouthparts (Figs. 10-13 and 22): Spinneret food.
dorsoventrally flattened, length about 3 X its width, Similar species: Larva of A. senex (Geyer,
24 Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9
1828) is close to A. aholai but the reticulation of tex between setae Pl-2 black transverse spot bar
head is absent, ocellar zone of head is narrow, dered by white; five groups of reticulation vis
white, cervical shield more greyish, dark border ible, 1st, 2nd and 5th groups blackish, clear, 3rd
of middorsal line of shield obscure but clear on and 4th groups weak; frons reddish-brown with
body intersegmentally forming enlarged blackish white margins and black spots; adfrons greyish
spot, spiracles of body dark yellow. In addition, brown, darker; anterior zone white; ocellar zone
larvae of A. senex possess longer spinneret (3.5 x brown between Oc3-4 and white Oc5-6; antenna!
its width and longer than labial palpi), shorter Lps 1 segments pale yellowish-brown.
(1.7 x its width) and weak seta Lpl(Lp2 nearly 5 Shields: Ground colour brown and violet-grey,
X Lpl). The brown phase of larva of A. caeci cervical shield with narrow, pale grey middorsal
macula (Denis & Schiffermi.iller, 1775) resem and subdorsal lines, both bordered by black, sharp
bles that of A. aholai but the reticulation of head margins; dorsal zone violet-grey, subdorsal zone
absent on lateral part, dark brown spot present on pale grey with narrow, white setal bases; anal
shield brown, middorsal line pale grey visible on
ventrad from 1st-4th ocelli on head, cervical
anterior part, subdorsal line absent; setal and other
shield darker brown without dark grey anterior
punctures brown.
margin and subdorsal line visible on thorax and
Body (Figs. 36 and 37): Body brown with
S 1-4 abdominal segments. Seta Lp2 of labial
white oblique line on S 1 and blackish on S7 and
palpus is long (length of Lpsl shorter than Lp2).
enlarged D2 warts on S8. Middorsal line broad,
Spines of hypopharynx compared in Fig. 22.
pale greyish, split by reddish, brown longitudinal
stripe and bordered sharply by black, winding,
narrow margins; white addorsalline between Dl-
4.4. Allophyes asiatica (Staudinger, 1892) ssp.
2 setae clear on S3-7 dorsally bordered by black
cypriaca Boursin, 1967
margin caudad from D2; subdorsal line reddish
between D 1-2 setae, greyish caudad from D2 and
Material examined: 6last ins tar larvae ex ovo, female collec
ted at Camlica 26.XII.1993. broken on S 1 and S7 because of white oblique
stripe, bordered by black, winding, sharp margins;
Mouthparts (Figs. 14-16 and 21): Spinneret
in the place of supraspiracular line yellowish
long, about 7 X its width, tubular with shallow
white spots on prothorax and reddish-brown ce
groove on dorsal surface, together with labial palpi
phalad from SDI setae; spiracular line split by
pushed forward. Lps 1 of labial pal pi elongated,
yellowish-grey dorsal and pale reddish-grey ven
about 2.5 x its width; setae of pal pi short, length
tral stripe, both with black margins; ventral line
of Lp2 about one half of that of Lpsl. Seta Lp2
dark brown broken into large spots on Sl-2 and
twice as long as Lp 1. Anterior (c) and medial (b)
S7. Dorsal and subdorsal zones outside lines grey
part of distal region of hypopharynx bare, spines
with reddish-brown spot dorsocephalad from D2
of lateral part of region (a) long and stout. Lateral
and reddish-brown area dorsad from SDl. Pleu
row of spines (e) on posterior region consists of
ral and ventral zones whitish with dark colour el
10-12 stout spines, those of dorsolateral part (f) ements. Oblique stripes present on Sl and S7-8,
and behind lateral row (h) nearly as long and stout that of S 1 white, running from D2 seta to spiracle
and equal in size. On medial part of posterior re and bordered cephalad by black, boad margin.
gion there are a few weak spines as well. Mandi Setal bases of D and SD groups white with black
ble with strong tooth-like retinaculum and three cephal margins, those of S 1-2 segments enlarged.
ridges on inner surface joined together, first and Spiracles grey with black rims, situated on white
second ridges with inner teeth; ridges terminat fleck, which enlarged on S 1. Abdominal prolegs
ing in process before cutting margin, third ridge pale grey with pale violet cuff, thoracic legs pale
short with broad process. First tooth of cutting grey.
margin very weak or absent, 2-4th teeth strong, 5th Hosts: In ex ovo rearings larvae fed on Prunus
weak or absent and 6th present but reduced in size. padus.
Head (Fig. 35): Brown, coronal stripe obscure; Similar species: Other larvae of the genus. Hy
frontal stripe black, broad, parallel sided; on ver- popharyngeal complex of the genus resembles that
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9 • Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus 25
of the genus Cucullia Schrank, 1802. A larva of Head (Fig. 38): Pale brown or darker brown
A. asiatica cypriaca resembles mostly that of with more or less sharp stripes and reticulation.
A. oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758). The latter, how Stripes greyish-brown, frontal stripe joined with
ever, has yellow ocellar spot and colourless an anterior zone and supraocellar stripe. Setal punc
tenna! segments on head; yellowish-brown sub tures brown without base-spots. Bands of reticu
dorsal zone of cervical shield; white, short sub lation greyish-brown, sharp, narrow; fields pale
dorsal line on anterior part of anal shield; white yellowish-brown; all groups of reticulation pres
colour between D2-D2 setae on S9; large black ent. Genae, frons and adfrons pale yellowish
area between MD 1-D1 -D2 setae on S 1 and ob brown, darker between F1-F1 setae. Ocellar zone
lique stripe broader bordered by black cephal mar with yellowish-white spots around Ocl-4 and
gin; abdominal segments S7-8 blackish; spiracles Oc5-6. First antenna! segment pale brown, sec
yellow; pro legs with reddish cuff and thoracic legs ond hyalin, paler.
reddish-grey. In addition, lower lip of spinneret Shields: Ground colour green or greyish
is elongated and seta Lp1 is longer (Lp2 only brown. Middorsal line of cervical shield narrow,
slightly longer than Lp1). A larva of A. alfaroi continuous, white; subdorsal line broken to white
Agenjo, 1951 seems to be more plain brown with spots; both lines present as white spots cephalad
weak, yellowish oblique lines. The black, broad from D1 on anal shield. Setal punctures green with
cephal margin of cervical shield is the most promi narrow, white bases; those of sutures colourless.
nent figure of this larva. Spines of hypopharynx Body (Figs. 39 and 40): Ground colour green
compared in Fig. 21. or greyish-brown, most prominent figure is dark
brown or greyish-brown herring-bone pattern on
back. Both middorsal and subdorsal lines broken
into small, white spots being hardly visible, bor
4.5. Polymixis trisignata (Mem!tril~s, 1847)
dered by dark greyish-brown margins which are
joined to herring-bone pattern between D1 and
Material examined: 4 last instar larvae ex ovo, female col
lected at Akcicek 27 .XII.1993, 10 last in star larvae ex ovo, D2. Spiracular line white but filled by greyish col
female collected near Besparmak village 26.XII.I994 and our elements, sometimes only dorsal part of line
3 last instar larvae ex ovo, female collected near Salamis narrowly pure white; line dorsally bordered by
ruins 3.1.1994. narrow dark brown margin. Base-spots of MD-,
Mouthparts (Figs. 17-20 and 22): Spinneret D-and SD-setae white, bordered by blackish dor
dorsoventrally flattened, length about 3 X its width, sal spots. Abdomen filled by rounded, small, white
dorsal groove present; length of spinneret equals punctures between darker brown or blackish ir
that of labial pal pi. Lps 1long and slender, length regular colour elements. Spiracles white with
more than twice its width and as long as Lp2. Seta black rims, situated on dorsal margin of spiracular
Lp2 7 x longer than seta Lp 1. Stipular setae shorter line. Pro legs greenish-grey with weak cuff of same
than width of Lps 1. Distal region of hypopharynx colour; thoracic legs pale brown.
covered by thin spines; spines of distal lateral Host: In ex ovo rearings larvae fed on lettuce.
group (a) stouter and longer, nearly 3 x length of Similar species: Larva of P. trisignata is close
spines of distal medial group (b). Spines of distal toP. leuconota (Herrich-Schaffer, 1850). My ma
anterior (c) and especially distal posterior (d) terial of the latter is still too scarce (2 larvae pre
groups shorter. Posterior region of hypopharynx served in alcohol) to search valid for differences
with row of 8-9 strong lateral spines (e), dorso between larvae of these taxons. Stipular setae of
lateral spines (f) very weak and short, equal to P. leuconota, however, seem to be shorter (about
those of posterior medial group (g). Spines of g half of the width of Lps1 of labial palpus). Some
group absent. Spines located behind lateral group authors e.g. Hacker and Ronkay ( 1992) and Beck
(h) slightly longer than those off group. Mandi (1996) consider these taxons synonym, whereas,
ble with three inner ridges terminating on strong according to Nowacki and Fibiger (1996), they
process before cutting margin and one strong in are bona species. The scheme of spines of hy
ner tooth on first ridge. First tooth of cutting mar popharynx are shown in Fig. 21 and compared
gin weak. with those of Polymixis rufocincta (Geyer, 1828).
26 Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9
5. Discussion fauna of the Five Finger Mountains. Only two
specimens were found close to the coast, one near
As Fibiger (1992) mentioned, collecting trips to Dipkarpaz in the dune area and one at Y edida1ga.
countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea reveal All other specimens were collected higher (4 00-
remarkable gaps in our knowledge of the diver 800 m) and mostly on the dry southern slopes of
sity and distribution of the moth fauna. The dis the mountain. According to Fibiger ( 1996, 1997),
coveries made during my two short excursions to it has not been described earlier but was found at
Cyprus show that collection during an unusual pe Limassol as early as 1933.
riod, now in late December, gives surprising re Polymixis trisignata occurs according to No
sults on this island. For example, Malicky (1992) wacki and Fibiger (1996) in Russia, and P. leu
has recently reported some Lepidoptera from conota (Herrich-Schaffer, 1850) is the most wide
Cyprus, but earlier Rebel ( 1916-1939), Wiltshire spread species in the Mediterranean area. Based
(1948-1951) and Wimmer (1985) have published on my larval material, both taxons seem to be very
many species occurring on the island. According close together, more material is needed to find
to Hacker (1990), there are some species on my some differences. However, imagines from Cy
list not or seldom found in the Near East before. prus were determined as P. trisignata by Fibiger.
Hacker (1996) listed 186 species of Noctuidae According to Hacker (1996), the species is not
occurring on the island and Hacker and Oswald new to Cyprus.
(1996) reported one additional species. On the Polymixis aphrodite Fibiger, 1997 occurs high
basis of my two collecting trips, six species must on the mountain (400-800 m) and mostly on dry
be added to the Cypriot moth fauna. These are: southern slopes. This new species seems to be rare,
only six specimens came to the sugar ropes at Ak
Trichoplusia vittata (Wallengren, 1856) ear
cicek, Bufavento and Sinan tepe. Later found in
lier found in the Arabian Peninsula. During my
the Troodos Mountains by Fibiger, Nilsson and
first trip one female of this African species came
Svendsen (Fibiger 1997).
to the sugar rope near Camlica. Recently the spe
Nola aegyptiaca Snellen, 1875 occurs in North
cies has been reported also in England.
Africa, described from Egypt. One female of this
Agrochola orientalis is a new species (Fibiger,
African species came to the light near the ruins of
1997) close to A. litura and A. meridionalis, both
Salamis on the southern coast of the island.
larvae and imagines. This species seems to occur
mainly on Five Finger Mountains from Bufavento Larvae of A. lychnidis show that some Cyp
to Kantara, only one specimen came to the sugar riot populations possess differences in larval
rope near Yedidalga. This place is located on the stages when compared with those of the conti
northern foot of the Troodos Mountains. Collect nent. The same difference of habitus seems to oc
ing sites at Kantara and Sinan tepe are located on cur in the larvae of P. rufocincta, which is green
the northern side of the mountain ridge where the on the continent but reddish on Cyprus. In addi
vegetation is more luxuriant. tion, the larvae of Cucullia calendulae Treitschke,
Conistra rubricans Fibiger, 1997 belongs to 1835 collected from Tenerife, Canary Islands, ha
the fauna of the Five Finger Mountains too; the bitually differ a lot from those of Cypriot speci
species was especially abundant at Kantara. All men. The food-plant, Calendula vulgaris, is the
specimen were collected by sugar ropes. Some same on both islands. Probably this tendency is
females were collected alive in order to get eggs. widespread among Noctuidae.
After one week, I found five eggs in one of the Beck (1996) placed the genus Allophyes to
plastic boxes. Two of the hatched larvae grew to Cuculliinae whereas Nowacki and Fibiger (1996)
the last instar from which it appeared that larvae retained it in Hadeninae. Based on the larval mor
must belong to the genus Agrochola. In the same phology, the genus has close relatives in the sub
box there was earlier one female of A. lychnidis family Cuculliinae, and here I adopt Beck's opin
and these eggs escaped my attention. This spe ion. In recent years the systematics of the Noc
cies occurs also on the Troodos Mountain (Fibiger, tuidae have been changed many times. I believe
1997). that a careful study and a cladistic analysis based
Ammoconia aholai, again a new species to the on both larval and imaginal characters may bring
ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9 • Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus 27
forth a more stable system in future. der Tiirkei II (Lepidoptera).-Esperiana 4: 273-330.
Hacker, H. & Oswald, R. 1996: Ergiinzungen zu "Die Noc
tuidae Vorderasiens" und neuere Forschungsergebnisse
Acknowledgements. I am grateful to my companion Mr. J.
zur Fauna der Tiirkei II (Lepidoptera). Nachtrag zu S.
Lehto for his help during the first trip and to Mr. M. Fibiger
273-330.-Esperiana 4: 453-458.
for the determination of the N octuidae and descriptions of
Hacker, H. & Ronkay, L. 1992: Das Genus Polymixis
the new species. I thank Mr. K. Silvonen for the photo
Hiibner, [1820] mit Beschreibung neuer Taxa und Fest
graphs of some larvae and Dr. H. Beck for the loan oflarval
legung neuer Stati (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).-Espe
material.
riana 3: 476-496.
Hinton, H. E. 1946: On the homology and nomenclature of
the setae of lepidopterous larvae, with some notes on
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28 Ahola: Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) from Cyprus • ENTOMOL. FENNICA Vol. 9
2
Fig. 2. Hypopharynx on
dorsal view of larva of A. o
rienta/is. Scale 0.1 mm.
4
Figs. 3 and 4. Larva of A. orienta/is. - 3. Spinneret
3 and labial palpi in dorsal view.-4. Stipular setae.
Scale 0.1 mm for 3 and 4.
5 Fig. 5. Inner surface of left mandible of larva of A. ori
enta/is. Scale 0.1 mm.